IT is outrageous that Jack Straw should be expecting France, Germany and Russia not to 'sideline' any resolutions of the United Nations in respect of provision for Iraq in the post-war period.

Why should nations be expected to support damage limitation after an event they steadily opposed?

The United Nations was wilfully sidelined by the UK and the US in the pre-emptive preparations for war and in the final decision to take military action.

Whatever the apparent success (at what incredible and as yet unknown personal, structural and cultural loss) of the campaign, the fact remains that the decision to go to war was not democratically agreed in the United Nations Security Council and long-term damage which has been done to democracy itself.

It is unbelievable that when three major members of the Security Council, significant military religious leaders from the US as well as other nations all counselled against the war, nevertheless on the doubtful basis of information as yet unproved, and in some cases highly suspect, action was taken.

The public demonstrations of extraordinarily large numbers of people world-wide should have registered as a democratic demand for alternative strategies.

This whole event has proved that democracy itself is in danger - and I for one, having usually voted Socialist, and rejoiced at Labour's coming power, will be unable to support a Government which has ridden roughshod over the will of so many party members, and the international protest of so many people of good will.

IAN D H ROBINS (Rev), Painter Wood, Billington.